Brass Teachers
Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Horn, French Horn, Tuba
Art Bailey
Trombone • Trumpet • Tuba • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • Piano
Art Bailey
Trombone • Trumpet • Tuba • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • Piano
For more than 30 years, Art Bailey has been a performer, composer, arranger, and educator, working in the NYC area and worldwide. As a freelance pianist and accordionist, he has performed in a wide variety of styles including jazz, classical, klezmer, and Cuban music. He has shared the stage at times with Itzhak Perlman, Steve Lacy, Del McCoury, Kirk Knuffke, Guy Klucevsek, Rez Abbasi, Matt Wilson, Marty Ehrlich, Dave Valentin, Karl Berger, Binky Griptite, Alfredo (Chocolate) Armenteros, The Atlanta Symphony, The Metropolitan Opera, The New York City Opera, Andy Gonzales, David Krakauer, and the Grammy award winning Klezmatics. In addition, he has performed in Broadway pit orchestras, most recently in “An American In Paris.”
Art has performed on, produced, and arranged or composed for numerous albums as a sideperson, including three recent projects of his own, “Quiet as a Bone,” a jazz piano trio recording featuring Art’s compositiongs, “Branch from the Tree,” a klezmer quintet with settings of compositions associated with Romanian tsimbalist Joseph Moskowitz, and a free-jazz duo with saxophonist Bryan Murray, “Clownmower.” He continues to have a busy schedule as a working jazz pianist and organist (and occasional trad jazz trumpeter) around NYC and NJ.
Finally, Art is thrilled to share whatever he’s learned over the last 30 years! He’s very much looking forward to meeting and working with new students of all levels.
Christopher Balas
Trumpet • Trombone • French Horn • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • Tuba
Christopher Balas
Trumpet • Trombone • French Horn • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • Tuba
Christopher Balas hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Trombone Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, he won the trombone position with Tales & Scales Incorporated. While performing with Tales & Scales, Chris toured around the United States and performed with the with the St. Louis Symphony, the Kalamazoo Symphony as well as in many Performing Arts Centers and schools. As a freelance artist, Chris has performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Symphony Hall in Boston, and The Kennedy Center. He also has performed with the legendary Ray Charles.
In 2000, Chris moved to New Jersey to attend Rutgers University. After his graduate studies, he began his career as an educator with Future Musicians Incorporated teaching Instrumental Music in parochial schools around northern New Jersey. In 2009, Chris took a position as Director of 6th Grade Bands in the South Orange-Maplewood School District. He is currently Director of Bands at Maplewood Middle School. Chris lives in Bernardsville, New Jersey with his wife Kim and their rescue dogs Lulu and Moe.
Matt Bilyk
Trumpet • Trombone • Bass Trombone • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • Tuba
Matt Bilyk
Trumpet • Trombone • Bass Trombone • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • Tuba
Matt Bilyk has been performing and teaching in the tri-state area for over 31 years. Matt holds a BA in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music. He has been an adjunct faculty member for many public and private schools throughout New Jersey, and he frequently serves as a clinician and festival adjudicator.
As a performer, Matt has played with Broadway, regional and local theater pit orchestras throughout New York and New Jersey. He has played with countless performers and groups including Warren Vache, Bobby Rydell, The Duprees, Jimmy Beaumont, The Happenings, The Classics, Connie Francis, Joan Rivers, Joe Piscopo, Richie LaBamba, Frankie Ford, Sonny Tuner, Mel Carter, Bucky Pizzarelli, The Irish Tenors, The Walkmen, Bob Crosby and The Bob Cats, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, the New York Voices, Charlie Calello and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Matt is currently on staff with the Encore Music Program in Ridgewood, NJ and here at Elefante Music & School for the Performing Arts in New Providence, NJ.
Gerald McConnell
Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn
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Gerald McConnell
Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn
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Gerald studied bass trombone with Dr. Robert Wigness at Montclair State University. He received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, and performed with the MSU Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Orchestra. In May 2002, he traveled with the MSU Band to Russia, and played in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Saratov.
Originally from Ames, Iowa, he was a member of the 1990 Iowa All-State Orchestra and the 1991 All-State Band, and traveled to Europe as a member of the 1991 United States Collegiate Wind Band. He attended Iowa State University as a music major and studied with David Stuart. While at ISU he played in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Marching Band, Basketball Pep Band, and other small ensembles.
From 1997 to 2001 Gerald served in the United States Air Force as an electronic technician working on B-52H Stratofortress bombers at Minot AFB in North Dakota. Since 2001 he has lived in Mountainside with his wife, Cathy.
Jason Procaccini
Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • French Horn • Tuba
Jason Procaccini
Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn/Euphonium • French Horn • Tuba
Jason studied music at Rutgers – Mason Gross for four years. While at Rutgers, he received a Bachelor’s in Music Education and studied tuba with Alan Baer. He is a certified teacher in New Jersey with experience teaching all grade levels. He currently participates in multiple different ensembles in the area: Imperial Brass Band, Brook Orchestra, Lambertville Brass Band, and Rutgers Brass Band. Jason has a love for all different types of music and is always excited to learn, talk about, and play new music. He was born and raised in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Jason was also involved in the Elefante summer camp and took lessons here for his entire time at High School. He is excited to return as a part of the staff!
Howard Toplansky
Trumpet • Trombone • Oboe • Bassoon • Clarinet
Howard Toplansky
Trumpet • Trombone • Oboe • Bassoon • Clarinet
Howard Toplansky holds a B.Mus.Ed and an MM from the University of Michigan. He has been an instrumental music instructor for over 30 years; he recently retired from teaching with the Kenilworth school district. Mr. Toplansky is the author of Essentials of Bassoon Technique , which is considered the “Bassoonist’s Bible”. This textbook is used in orchestras and universities around the world.
Austin Yee
Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn • Piano
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Austin Yee
Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn
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Austin is a graduate of Eastman School of Music, where he studied Music Education and Jazz Performance. During his time at Eastman, Austin played in the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, performing at numerous events including the Rochester Jazz Festival. The group also participated in the Jack Rudin Championship. As a composer, Austin scored “Basie and the Trumpet” which was selected for the Rochester Fringe Festival. Austin won the 2021 Downbeat Award for Original Composition in Large Ensemble. He loves listening to and playing all types of music and is excited to be here at Elefante Music!
Upright bass, also called string bass or double bass, is a member of the orchestra family. Just as often, however, it appears in jazz, bluegrass, folk, and other genres. With a large hollow body and 4 thick strings, the tones produced by the upright bass are low and rich. The instrument is capable of long, expressive tones when played with a bow; and short, percussive tones when plucked with the strings. String bass is a dynamic and impressive instrument to play!
The oboe is a woodwind and a member of the double-reed family. It is played by blowing air through the reed, attached at the top of the instrument. The reed consists of two very thin pieces of cane, pressed together with a small opening to allow air to pass through. The sound can be high in pitch, but it has a variety of colorful tones, from bright and piercing to low and mysterious.
